Gale Force 9 gets Dune license

Gale Force 9 gets Dune license

Gale Force Nine has reached an agreement with the Herbert Estate to publish tabletop games based on the Dune property. This will include a roleplaying game in late 2019, as well as board and miniatures games timed to release just before Legendary Pictures’ Dune movie in 2020. GF9 says it “plans to align with other game companies on numerous categories and formats in the future.” Read: “we are all in on this one.”

Considering how things ended with Last Unicorn Games’ Dune: Chronicles of the Imperium RPG in 2000, this is hopeful news. As the release date for Dune: Chronicles got close, LUG was struggling with debt. The company was bought out by Wizards of the Coast, who released a limited edition of Dune: Chronicles only available at Gen Con and Gen Con UK, never intended to keep it going – after all, that would be a threat to their impending Star Wars d20 RPG. WotC failed to get the Dune license for any other products (some say the Herbert Estate wasn’t really interested in talking with WotC about making a deal; others say the price was too high for WotC), and since then, no publisher of the same caliber has given Dune a go. The only Dune games in the last 18 years have been unofficial, free downloads.

If you want a glimpse of the long out-of-print Last Unicorn Games Dune RPG, head over to OgreCave’s Instagram feed. We’re happy to whet your appetite for the adventures on Arrakis this new license agreement could bring us. We have every confidence GF9 can create a new game that looks at least as great – probably even better. Here’s to hoping.

Tabletop role-playing game planned for late 2019 release, with additional original tabletop games from Gale Force Nine and their sub-licensees to follow

BURBANK, CA – August 6, 2018 – Legendary Entertainment and Herbert Properties LLC have reached a multi-year licensing agreement with Gale Force Nine (GF9). The award-winning game publisher is now set to bring the beloved sci-fi franchise DUNE to the world of tabletop gaming.

“Gale Force Nine has consistently demonstrated a skill and passion for building successful tabletop game series alongside category leading partners and we are thrilled to announce this exciting addition to the Dune licensing program ,” said Jamie Kampel, Vice President of Licensing & Partnerships for Legendary. “Legendary looks forward to a fun and meaningful contribution to this revered legacy property.”

The agreement calls for Gale Force Nine to produce original tabletop games drawing from the full scope of the Dune franchise—spanning the many publications from Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson—along with multiple direct tie-ins with Legendary’s highly-anticipated film from director Denis Villeneuve.

“This is only the beginning of our big plans in tabletop for this captivating franchise,” says John-Paul Brisigotti, CEO of Gale Force Nine. “Dune is a rich and wonderful universe, and we expect to produce an equally expansive and inspired line of games for years to come.”

The full range of tabletop games, including board and miniatures games are slated to hit the market just prior to Legendary’s theatrical release of DUNE in 2020. In addition, GF9 plans to align with other game companies on numerous categories and formats in the future.

ABOUT LEGENDARY PICTURES
Legendary Entertainment is a leading media company with film (Legendary Pictures), television and digital (Legendary Television and Digital Media) and comics (Legendary Comics) divisions dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to worldwide audiences. Legendary has built a library of marquee media properties and has established itself as a trusted brand which consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment including some of the world’s most popular intellectual property. In aggregate, Legendary Pictures-associated productions have realized grosses of more than $16 billion worldwide at the box office. To learn more visit: www.legendary.com

ABOUT GALE FORCE NINE
Gale Force Nine, LLC (GF9) specializes in creating hobby board games with rich strategic play based on licenses from fan-favorite media properties such as Dungeons & Dragons, Star Trek, Firefly, and Dr. Who. Gale Force Nine is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Battlefront Group. Visit www.gf9.com for more information.

ABOUT GENUINE ENTERTAINMENT
Genuine Entertainment is an award-winning producer and paladin of premium content and consumer products. Specializing in strategic licensing for genre entertainment brands, Genuine creates scalable licensing programs that extend franchises into new markets and build worlds across numerous categories. Prioritizing passion and strategic planning in equal measure, it is their mission to drive business growth by genuinely connecting with consumers and delivering the quality and authenticity they deserve. To learn more, please visit: www.genuineent.com.

ABOUT HERBERT PROPERTIES LLC
Herbert Properties LLC is managed by the Herbert family, and is the copyright holder for the Dune series. The brilliant Frank Herbert first published his classic bestseller DUNE in novel form in 1965, and he wrote 5 popular sequels to it. After Frank’s death in 1986, his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson continued the series with 14 additional novels, extending the audience of the series with new international bestsellers. Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, and Kim Herbert, officers of Herbert Properties LLC, are pleased to share in the exciting announcement of new games set in the fantastic Dune universe.